The New Jersey State AFL-CIO hailed the success of labor-backed candidates in municipal non-partisan elections held in Bayonne, Irvington, and Long Branch on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss, a member of IUOE Local 68, and Long Branch Councilman Mario Vieira, a member of BAC Local 4, claimed victory in their elections. Mayor Vauss ran on a platform promoting economic development and redevelopment, improving recreation and public works, and keeping property taxes stable. Councilman Vieira touted his experience improving roads and removing blighted properties to make Long Branch better for the people who live there. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO contributed to the success of both candidates by investing in a mail program and website, www.njunionstrong.com, aimed at bringing out the union vote in their favor. Both Vauss and Vieira are graduates of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s Labor Candidates Program, which provides political campaign training to union members who are interested in running for elected office. With the elections of Mayor Vauss and Councilman Vieira, the number of successful Labor Candidates rises to 1,186 since the program began in 1997.In Bayonne, voters rewarded Mayor Jimmy Davis’ promise to protect what makes Bayonne a special place to live by electing him for another term as Mayor. His record of helping residents recover from Hurricane Ida, supporting small businesses during the pandemic, and defending the Bayonne Medical Center resonated with the electorate in this highly contested race. The Hudson County CLC and Hudson County Building Trades Council endorsed Mayor Davis’ election, and organized hundreds of union members to go door-to-door to ask their brothers and sisters and their families to vote for labor’s endorsed candidate.Union sisters and brothers considering a run for public office and who would like to participate in the Labor Candidate Program should contact COPE Director John Shea at cope@njaflcio.org.
